Thailand launched a series of airstrikes against Cambodia on Monday, igniting a new wave of conflict between the two Southeast Asian nations. This escalation signals a potential breakdown of the peace plan that was previously endorsed by US President Donald Trump just two months ago. Both countries have accused each other of initiating strikes along their disputed border, following weeks of rising tensions and a halt in the progress of a ceasefire agreement previously established.
A Thai military official confirmed that the airstrikes targeted Cambodian military positions as a response to an attack that occurred earlier on the same day, resulting in the death of one Thai soldier and injuries to two others. Thai Maj. Gen. Winthai Suvaree stated, “The target was at Cambodia’s arms supporting positions in the area of Chong An Ma Pass, because those targets had used artillery and mortar launchers to attack the Thai side at Anupong Base, resulting in one soldier killed and two soldiers injured.”
The conflict escalated early Monday morning, with the Cambodian military reportedly beginning to target the Thai border around 3 a.m. local time. In a separate announcement, the Cambodian army accused the Thai military of launching an “attack on the Cambodian forces” shortly thereafter, around 5:04 a.m. local time. The Cambodian statement emphasized that this attack followed numerous provocative actions by Thai forces over the preceding days.
In light of the renewed conflict, approximately 70% of Thai civilians have been evacuated from border towns. Unfortunately, during the evacuation process, one civilian death was reported, attributed to a “pre-existing medical condition.” The ongoing violence has raised concerns about the humanitarian impact on both sides of the border.
This recent flare-up is reminiscent of the intense five-day border conflict in July, which resulted in the loss of dozens of lives and displaced around 200,000 people on both sides. Following that confrontation, an initial ceasefire was established on July 28, facilitated by diplomatic engagements from President Trump with the leaders of both nations. In late October, Thailand and Cambodia signed an expanded ceasefire declaration in Kuala Lumpur, a ceremony attended by Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. This moment was heralded by Trump as a significant diplomatic triumph, further promoting his narrative of having resolved multiple conflicts.
Despite the apparent success of the ceasefire agreement, tensions resumed less than two weeks after its signing when Thailand announced it was halting progress on the deal following a landmine explosion at the border that injured several Thai soldiers. The ongoing skirmishes between Thailand and Cambodia over their contested border have marked some of the most serious clashes in recent years, with both sides blaming each other for the latest resurgence of violence.
The situation remains precarious, and the potential for further escalation looms large as both nations grapple with the aftermath of the latest conflict. The international community is watching closely to see how this situation unfolds and whether any diplomatic efforts can restore peace and stability to the region.